Circuit connecter



July 23, E929. w. R. WALKER CIRCUIT CONNEGTER Filed Aug. 21, 1924 WWWlNVENTOR Patented July'zs, 1929.

UNITED,

W ARRENR. WALKER, OF NEW DOBP, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEWITT ELEC-TRIO COMPANY, OF HOIBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.-

CIBCUIT CONNECTER.

Application filed August 21, 1924. serial No. 733,397.

My present invention relates to electric switches of the liquid flowtype and particularly to such a switch in which two or more oftheelectrodes thereof'are sealed through a vitreous wall of the envelopeof the switch at comparatively short distances apart wherebymanufacturing is simplified and the cost thereof minimizcdand wherebysuch device is adaptable for production in large quantities by hand orby means of comparatively simple machinery. My invention also relates tomethods for the production of such switches.

Heretofore switches have been made of such design as to requireexpensive operations in the manufacture thereof whether suchmanufacturing was done by hand or by machinery.

I have discovered that manufacturing 2o switches of this kind'can bematerially simplified and a great saving thereby procured by scaling inthe electrodes or leads of such a device through the wall thereof atpoints compartively close to each other such as to adapt both seals tobe made at one operation or by concurrent operations or by operationsclosely following each other. For example,-I pro vide a switch havingtwo or more electrodes sealed through the glass wall of the envelopethereof at a unitary seal, the electrodes being spaced apart at adistance commensurate the current and voltage on which the switch isdesigned to operate. Sleeves of insulating material are mounted aboutthe leads and electrodes, when desired, to enable the switch to be usedwith the higher voltages and amperages and with the leads comparativelyclose together and near to the seal-in.

It is an object of this invention'to provide 40 a switch of this typewhich is simple of construction and which can be made rapidly andcheaply either by hand or by simple glass working and other machinery.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the specification anddrawing.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation View in part section of a switch embodying myinvention shown in a closed circuit position v Fig. 2 is a similar viewof the switch of Fig. 1, shown in an open circuit position, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings the longitudinal envelope 1 of vitreous material such asglass has sealed therethrough. at the common seal 2 the spaced apartleads 3 and 4;; Atthe bottom of the envelope and at a point near saidseal 2 is formed the cup 5 in the wall of the envelope and connectingwith the main body thereof through a restricted opening. Within theenvelope is provided a quantity of conducting material such as mercury6. To said lead 3 is mounted the electrode 7 which is substantially Ushaped with one leg longer than the other,

the longer leg being connected to said lead 3 electrodes 7 and 8 asshown in Fig. 1. Forv breaking circuit therethrough the switch is tiltedso that the main body of mercury 6 flows away from the said electrode 8and separates from body of mercury 6', which latter is held in cup 5 bythe restricted orifice of said cup in a number of open positions of theswitch as for instance the position shown in Fig. 2. In this osition theelectrode 7 is in contact with mam body of mercury 6 and the electrode 8is in contact with the body of mercury 6 and in moving from the positionof Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2 current path is broken between thetwo bodies of mercury 6 and, 6 without subjecting the electrodes 7 and 8to any arcing which might occur on such breaking. In reestablishment ofcurrent path as by moving the switch from the position shown in Fig. 2to that shown in Fig. 1 any arcing which might occur likewise takesplace between the two bodies of mercury 6 and 6.

For dissipating heat and for quenching any sparking that might occur inthe switch I provide the envelope 1, when desired, with an atmosphere ofgas suitable for this purpose such as hydrogen, nitrogen, etc.

I claim:

1. In a mercury switch comprising a sealed longitudinal envelope,mercury in said envelope of glass like material, and two electhevicinity of the level of the first. electrode.

2. A mercury switch comprising a longitudinal sealed envelope of glasslike vitreous material, mercury in said envelope, a well formed in thewall of said envelope and connecting with the interior of the envelope,two electrodes sealed through the wall of said envelope at or near oneend thereof, one having a portion extending into said Well, and theother of said electrodes extending into the main body of said mercury inan open circuit position and in a closed circuit position of the switch.

3. A mercury switch comprising a longitudinal sealed envelope of glasslike vitreous material, mercury in said envelope, a well formed in thewall of said envelope and connecting with the interior of the envelope,two electrodes sealed through the wall of said envelope at or near oneend thereof, one having a portion extending into said well, and theother of said electrodes extending longitudinally into the main body ofsaid mercury in an open circuit position and in a closed circuitposition of the switch.

4. In a mercury switch, a longitudinal sealed envelope of glass likematerial, mercury therein, a cup formed in the wall of said envelope,two electrodes sealed through one end of said envelope through a commonseal, one of said electrodes termlnating within said cup, mercury insaid envelope extending into said cup and connecting said electrodes ina closed position of the switch and in an open position of the switchforming two pools, one pool in said cup about first said electrode andthe other pool in the main body of the switch and contacting with theother of said electrodes.

5. A' mercury switch comprising a longitudinal sealed envelope of glasslike vitreous material, mercury in said envelope, two'electrodes sealedthrough the wall of said imvelope at or near one end thereof, one ofsaid electrodes having a portion extending into a pool of said mercuryin an open circuit position and in a closed circuit position of saidswitch, and the other having a portion extending longitudinally awayfrom said pool and then bending hack on itself, the return portionextending into the main body of said mercury in said open circuitposition and in said closed circuit position of the switch.

6 A mercury switch comprising a longitudinal sealed envelope of glasslike vitreous material, mercury in said envelope, a well formed in thewall of said envelope and connecting with the interior of the envelope,two electrodes sealed through the wall of said envelope at or nearoneend thereof, one having a portion extending into said well, and theother of said electrodes extending away from the first said electrodeand returning on itself, the return portion extending into the main bodyof said mercury in an open circuit position and in a closed circuitposition of the switch.

7. A mercury switch comprising a sealed 1 envelope of glass likevitreous material, mercury in said envelope, a well formed in the wallof said envelope and connecting with the interior of the envelope, twoelectrodes sealed through the wall of said envelope at or near one endthereof, one having a portion extending into said well, and the other ofsaid electrodes extending above the surface of said mercury andreturning toward said well, the return portion extending longitudinallyinto the main body of said mercury in an open circuit position and in aclosed circuit position of the switch.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this21st day of August, A. D. 1924.

' WARREN R. WALKER.

